Photoelectric conversion device

Abstract

The present invention provides a photoelectric conversion device capable of improving conversion efficiency. The photoelectric conversion device includes a working electrode and a facing electrode, and a semi-solid electrolyte containing layer supported between the working electrode and the facing electrode. The electrolyte containing layer contains a particle, an organic solvent, and ionic liquid. An electron is efficiently injected from dye excited by absorbing light to a metal oxide semiconductor layer, and the electron quickly travels from the metal oxide semiconductor layer to an external circuit in comparison with the case where the electrolyte containing layer does not contain the organic solvent.

1 . A photoelectric conversion device comprising:
 an electrode including a carrying layer which carries dye; and   a semi-solid electrolyte containing layer formed on the carrying layer,   wherein the semi-solid electrolyte containing layer contains a particle, an organic solvent, and ionic liquid.   
     
     
         2 . The photoelectric conversion device according to  claim 1 , wherein a weight ratio of the organic solvent to the ionic liquid, i.e., organic solvent/ionic liquid, is 1/99 or more and 90/10 or less. 
     
     
         3 . The photoelectric conversion device according to  claim 1 , wherein content of the particle in the electrolyte containing layer is 5 weight % or more and 60 weight % or less. 
     
     
         4 . The photoelectric conversion device according to  claim 1 , wherein the organic solvent is in a liquid state at a room temperature, and has one or more of a nitrile group, a carbonate ester structure, a cyclic ester structure, a lactam structure, an amide group, an alcohol group, a sulfinyl group, a pyridine ring, and a cyclic ether structure as a functional group. 
     
     
         5 . The photoelectric conversion device according to  claim 1 , wherein the organic solvent contains one or more of methoxypropionitrile, propylene carbonate, N-methylpyrrolidone, pentanol, quinoline, N,N-dimethylformamide, γ-butyl lactone, dimethyl sulfoxide, 1,4-dioxane, methoxyacetonitrile, and butylnitrile. 
     
     
         6 . The photoelectric conversion device according to  claim 1 , wherein a conductive particle is used as the particle. 
     
     
         7 . The photoelectric conversion device according to  claim 6 , wherein a carbon particle is used as the conductive particle. 
     
     
         8 . The photoelectric conversion device according to  claim 1 , wherein the ionic liquid is made of an iodine salt.